Hand-covering.



0. s. WESTERMAN HAND COVERING.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 3. 1916.

Patented June 27, 1916.

INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY m: comma PLANOHRAPH 110-. WASHINGTON. D. C.

U I ED STATES PATEN O E QRVILLE s. wEs'rEaMAN, or ANN ARBOR, MIGHIGA1\T.-.

HAND-COVERING,

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ORVILLE S. WEsrER- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing .at Ann Arbor, in the county of WVashtenaw This invention relates to an lIIlPI'OVBd" hand covering which is to be used for boxing and the principal object of the invention is to provide an improved covering which is so constructed that the hand receiving pockets thereof will conform to the contour of the closed hand or clenched fist thus permitting the entire hand to be placed within the hand covering and prevent danger of the thumb being injured when boxing. Also all parts of the fist with which it is possible to strike a blow are well padded.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hand covering which is so constructed that a firm grip can be obtainedwithin the same thus not only securely holding the hand covering in the proper position upon the hand but also preventing danger of the fingers being driven 1nto thepalm of the hand.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the hand covering that it may be laced between the thumb and fore-finger thus doing away with the dangerous open palm which often causes serious injuries when boxing.

Another object of the invention is to so constructthis hand covering that it will protect the wrists and prevent danger of the wrists being injured when striking a blow.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the character described so constructed that it will be strong and durable and not liable to get out of shape or easily come apart.

This improved device is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the hand covering applied to a hand, the hand within the covering being indicated by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the hand covering with the securing lacings removed.

The hand covering is provided with a pocket 10 which conforms to the contour of the clenched fist and is provided with an extension 11 for covering the wrist. A hand Specification of Letters Patent.

hold an opponent unfairly.

Patented June 2?, 1916.

Application filed January 3,1916. Serial No. 69,953.

padding or fist padding 1:2 is placed around the pocket and covered by an outer covering or skin 13 thus forming a hand covering withwhich a hard blow can be struck with-, out unnecessary damage or injury to the person struck. A wrist padding 14 is also provided to protect the wrist from the danger of receiving a blow which might injure the wrist, this padding 1 1 being covered by a skin 15. It should benoted that the hand padding and the skin therefor does not extend entirely around the hand but terminates short of the opening 16 as shown in Fig. 1. This opening will be closed by the lacing 17 extending through openings 18 formed in the pocket 10 and the extension 11. From an inspection of Fig. 1 it'will be. noted that this closure is positioned over the hand between the thumb and fore-finger and therefore when boxing there will be no danger of the laced portion of the glove strik ing the opponent and doing the damage often caused by the open palm of an ordinary boxing glove. A hand grip 19 extends across the pocket as shown in Fig. 2 so that the closed fist can obtain a firm grip upon the hand covering. This hand grip further provides means for preventing the fingers from being forced into the palm of the hand when striking a blow.

lVhen in use the hand covering will be applied as shown in Fig. 1 and the lacings will then be drawn tight and tied at the wrist. A protector will therefore be provided which will take care of the thumb and hand of the wearer, also the wrist. and will remove the danger of the men being hurt by a blow delivered with the open hand. It should be particularly noted that this device does away with the exposed thumb ordinarily provided in boxing gloves and therefore the thumb cannot be broken or dislocated by receiving the force of a blow.

I have therefore provided a hand covering which is so constructed that the hand and wrists of the wearer willbe protected and the men protected from unnecessary injuries to the face. This method of construction also compels strict adherence to, rules-relating to hitting with open hands and holding. With this device it is impossible to hit with open hands and it will be extremely difiicult to The peculiar construction of the hand covering insures great strength and durability, also relieves it of strain co-incident withconstant opening and closing of hands as occurs in other devices.

lVhat is claimed is 1. A hand covering comprising an inner pocket conforming to the contour of a clenched fist and provided with an inlet opening extending from the wrist end of the hand covering into the space between the thumb and fore-finger of a closed hand, a padding positioned about the pocket and terminating in spaced relation to the inlet opening, and, means for releasably holding the inlet opening in a closed position.

2. A hand covering, comprising an inner body conforming to the contour of a clenched fist and provided with an inlet Gopiee of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the opening extending from the Wrist end of the hand covering into the space between the thumb and fore-finger of the closed hand, a hand grip fixed at one end to said covering at a point immediately adjacent the inner terminus of said inlet opening, and at its other end to a point approximately diametrically opposite to the first point of connection, and padding arranged about said covering, as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ORVILLE S. WVESTERMAN. Witnesses:

, Ross GRANGER,

EVART l-I. SooTT.

Commissioner of Patents.

Washington. D. G. 

